TWO police officers fined for driving the wrong way down a West Yorkshire motorway are to appeal.
Both will go to court to try and overturn their convictions for dangerous driving.
Lawyers are working on appeals by sergeants Shelton Newsham and Andrew Watson, which will be heard by a Crown Court judge.
Watson, 40, of Linthwaite, works for Bradford South division. Newsham, 35, of Ainley Top, is a custody sergeant for Tong and Wyke Neighbourhood Policing Team, also based in Bradford.
The pair were convicted by magistrates in Dewsbury of dangerous driving and driving a vehicle backwards on a motorway.
The court heard in January that there had been an accident on the M606 at Chain Bar, near Cleckheaton, on June 29, 2008, and the motorway was closed. Police dealing with the accident found a number of vehicles being reversed up the slip road, including those driven by the officers.
The two denied the charges and maintained they were trying to help officers at the scene after seeing other drivers doing three-point turns and driving the wrong way down the motorway.
Following the convictions, both have been told West Yorkshire Police are considering internal disciplinary actions.
Each was banned from driving for 12 months, ordered to take an extended test and fined £770, with £400 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Solicitor Mr Damian Kelly said: “A date for the hearing has been set before a crown court judge next month and we have instructed counsel.”
Police have said they will investigate the circumstances that led to the charges and take any necessary disciplinary action.
The officers are working normally. A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The internal investigation will not continue until the appeal has been heard.”
